State police investigate dog shooting near Albion

Staff reports

August 17, 2013 11:46 AM

Staff reports

August 17, 2013 11:46 AM

State police are looking into a report of a 7-month-old dog being shot in Conneaut Township.

Police said the dog, a German shepherd, wandered onto a property at 9959 Barney Road at about 1 p.m. on Friday. The owner of that property, who owns livestock, assumed the animal was a coyote or wild dog and shot it when it started running toward him, police said.

The incident was reported by the dog's owner, Dennis J. Haffley, 21, whom police described as the man's neighbor.

The initial shot severely injured the dog but did not kill it, police said. They said Haffley asked the man to shoot it a second time to end its suffering.

Police said they are discussing the possibility of animal cruelty charges from the incident and whether Haffley could be cited for not having his dog on a leash.